Dolores County / San Juan National Forest, Colorado, USA – Video filmed by the USDA Forest Service San Juan National Forest shows extreme fire behavior on the Ferris, Far Draw, and Doe Canyon fires as high winds and steep terrain caused substantial growth.

Firefighters reported that dangerous conditions prevented crews from engaging the fires on the ground. At least 10 retardant drops were completed before high winds forced aviation operations to stop because of unsafe conditions.

The Doe Canyon Fire reached 387 acres, the Far Draw Fire grew to 649 acres, and the Ferris Fire expanded to 4,777 acres.

A night shift remained on scene to assess structures and monitor fire growth overnight. Firefighters planned a morning briefing to develop strategies for engaging the fires as conditions allow.

Dolores County contacted some private landowners to carry out localized evacuations near the head of the fire. Residents were advised to check with their counties for the latest evacuation information.

Firefighters on the Dolores Ranger District observed extreme fire behavior into the early morning on the Ferris and Far Draw fires. Resources continued scouting fire boundaries to assess and protect values at risk.

The fire crossed National Forest System Roads 514 and 493. Crews conducted a morning briefing before heading into the field, with the protection of life and property remaining the top priority during the challenging conditions.

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